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Named after the address of his childhood home in North Carolina, J. Cole's third studio effort was released with no supporting singles, and there are no featured artists, either, because 2014 Forest Hills Drive is one of those personal, conceptual, and "heavy" albums. Most importantly, it's admirable bordering on excellent, sure to inspire returning fans to herald it as a classic even if it doesn't woo the skeptical, casually wandering out of its intro with two smooth and soulful numbers that are so free, they're just shy of being clumsy. Key cut "January 28th" puts gut-wrenching hard truths of the Pusha-T type ("What's the price for a black man's life?/I check the toe tag, not one zero in sight") next to wobbly wordplay that could have been lifted off some old Digable Planets LP ("Flow is bananas/Here, peel this back"), while "Wet Dreamz" finds J. Cole the producer offering a beat that's rather Alchemist or 9th Wonder inspired, and then slathering it in plush strings for a perfect single on an album that refuses singles. Later, "No Role Modelz" mixes a tribute to the late actor James Avery ("Rest in peace Uncle Phil"), with a bubbling beat that's a variation on cloud-rap (co-produced by Phonix Beats and Cole), and a snarky, snappy set of put downs that are like an elevated Fergie ("I don't want no bitch from reality shows/Out of touch with reality hos"), but all these flights of fancy fly freely since the album lacks an anchor. 2014 Forest Hills Drive comes off as a great, experimental, and advancing mixtape, but it's insider to a fault, as slight as that fault might be. © David Jeffries
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Jack Mason, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - J. Cole, Producer, MainArtist - Mark Pitts, Producer, Executive Producer - Brian Gardner, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Casey, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Jermaine Cole, Producer, Executive Producer, ComposerLyricist - Roc Nation, Producer, Executive Producer - Juro "Mez" Davis, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Rodgers, Trombone, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald Gilmore, Producer, Additional Producer - Jeremy Cimino, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dreamville, Producer, Executive Producer
℗ 2014 Cole World/Interscope Records
Timothy Thomas, ComposerLyricist - Jack Mason, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - J. Cole, Producer, MainArtist - Mark Pitts, Producer, Executive Producer - Brian Gardner, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kaye Fox, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Jermaine Cole, Producer, Executive Producer, ComposerLyricist - Yumi Arai, ComposerLyricist - Kunihiko Murai, ComposerLyricist - David Linaburg, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Roc Nation, Producer, Executive Producer - Juro "Mez" Davis, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nate Jones, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald Gilmore, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Jeremy Cimino, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dreamville, Producer, Executive Producer - Andre "Dre Charles" Thomas, Producer, Additional Producer - Team Titans, Producer, Additional Producer - Timothy "Nick Paradise" Thomas, Producer, Additional Producer
℗ 2014 Cole World/Interscope Records
Roy Hammond, ComposerLyricist - Jack Mason, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - J. Cole, Producer, MainArtist - Mark Pitts, Producer, Executive Producer - Brian Gardner, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Charles Simmons, ComposerLyricist - Jermaine Cole, Producer, Executive Producer, ComposerLyricist - Roc Nation, Producer, Executive Producer - Juro "Mez" Davis, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dreamville, Producer, Executive Producer
℗ 2014 Cole World/Interscope Records
Jack Mason, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - J. Cole, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Mark Pitts, Producer, Executive Producer - Brian Gardner, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Johnny Burke, ComposerLyricist - Jimmy Van Heusen, ComposerLyricist - Jermaine Cole, Producer, Executive Producer, ComposerLyricist - Roc Nation, Producer, Executive Producer - Juro "Mez" Davis, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nuno Malo, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - Dreamville, Producer, Executive Producer - William "Willie B." Brown, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Sean Kellett, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2014 Cole World/Interscope Records
Jack Mason, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - J. Cole, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Mark Pitts, Producer, Executive Producer - Brian Gardner, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kaye Fox, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jermaine Cole, Producer, Executive Producer - ANDERSON HERNANDEZ, ComposerLyricist - Roc Nation, Producer, Executive Producer - Yolanda Renee, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Juro "Mez" Davis, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - T.S. Rose Desandies, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Dreamville, Producer, Executive Producer - Sean Kellett, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Anderson "Vinylz" Hernandez, Producer
℗ 2014 Cole World/Interscope Records
Jack Mason, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - J. Cole, Producer, MainArtist - Mark Pitts, Producer, Executive Producer - Brian Gardner, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mark Farner, ComposerLyricist - Jermaine Cole, Producer, Executive Producer, ComposerLyricist - Roc Nation, Producer, Executive Producer - Juro "Mez" Davis, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dreamville, Producer, Executive Producer - Anderson "Vinylz" Hernandez, Producer, Additional Producer - Manzel Bush, ComposerLyricist - Brion Unger, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2014 Cole World/Interscope Records
Weldon Irvine, ComposerLyricist - Warren Griffin III, ComposerLyricist - Andre Fischer, ComposerLyricist - J. Cole, Producer, MainArtist - Mark Pitts, Producer, Executive Producer - Brian Gardner, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Wolinski, ComposerLyricist - James Casey, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Danielle Hollis, ComposerLyricist - Jermaine Cole, Producer, Executive Producer, ComposerLyricist - Dewayne Williams, ComposerLyricist - Jamali Carthorn, ComposerLyricist - Roc Nation, Producer, Executive Producer - Juro "Mez" Davis, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Rodgers, Bass Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - T.S. Rose Desandies, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Travis Antoine, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald Gilmore, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Dreamville, Producer, Executive Producer - CharGaux, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - Mayfield W. Small, Jr., ComposerLyricist - Raphael "Wreck-It-Raph" Lee, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Deon Williams, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2014 Cole World/Interscope Records
Jonathan Smith, ComposerLyricist - Eric Jackson, ComposerLyricist - Jack Mason, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - J. Cole, Producer, MainArtist - Mark Pitts, Producer, Executive Producer - Brian Gardner, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Deongelo Holmes, ComposerLyricist - Jermaine Cole, Producer, Executive Producer, ComposerLyricist - Roc Nation, Producer, Executive Producer - Juro "Mez" Davis, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ron Gilmore, ComposerLyricist - Dwight Andrews, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Gilmore, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Dreamville, Producer, Executive Producer - Nate Alford, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2014 Cole World/Interscope Records
Paul Beauregard, ComposerLyricist - Jordan Houston, ComposerLyricist - Earl Stevens, ComposerLyricist - Brandt Jones, ComposerLyricist - Marvin Whitemon, ComposerLyricist - Tenina Stevens, ComposerLyricist - Danell Stevens, ComposerLyricist - J. Cole, Producer, Additional Producer, MainArtist - Mark Pitts, Producer, Executive Producer - Brian Gardner, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kaye Fox, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Jermaine Cole, Producer, Executive Producer, ComposerLyricist - Darius Barnes, ComposerLyricist - Roc Nation, Producer, Executive Producer - Juro "Mez" Davis, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dreamville, Producer, Executive Producer - Sean Kellett, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Darius "Phonix Beats" Barnes, Producer
℗ 2014 Cole World/Interscope Records
Jack Mason, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - J. Cole, MainArtist - Mark Pitts, Producer, Executive Producer - Brian Gardner, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kaye Fox, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jermaine Cole, Producer, Executive Producer, ComposerLyricist - "Pop" Wansel, Producer, Co-Producer - Roc Nation, Producer, Executive Producer - Juro "Mez" Davis, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - @JProof, Producer, Co-Producer - Nuno Malo, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - Dreamville, Producer, Executive Producer - Sean Kellett, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2014 Cole World/Interscope Records
Jack Mason, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - J. Cole, Producer, MainArtist - Mark Pitts, Producer, Executive Producer - Brian Gardner, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kaye Fox, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - James Casey, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Jermaine Cole, Producer, Executive Producer, ComposerLyricist - Jeff Gitelman, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Roc Nation, Producer, Executive Producer - Juro "Mez" Davis, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nate Jones, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - James Rodgers, Bass Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - Filippo Trecca, ComposerLyricist - Travis Antoine, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Dreamville, Producer, Executive Producer - Sean Kellett, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2014 Cole World/Interscope Records
Jack Mason, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - J. Cole, MainArtist - Mark Pitts, Producer, Executive Producer - Brian Gardner, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Calvin Price, ComposerLyricist - Carl McCormick, ComposerLyricist - Jermaine Cole, Producer, Executive Producer, ComposerLyricist - Ramon Ibanga Jr., ComposerLyricist - Roc Nation, Producer, Executive Producer - Juro "Mez" Davis, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dreamville, Producer, Executive Producer - Sean Kellett, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ramon "!llmind" Ibanga Jr., Producer
℗ 2014 Cole World/Interscope Records
Jack Mason, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - J. Cole, Producer, MainArtist - Mark Pitts, Producer, Executive Producer - Brian Gardner, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Casey, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Jermaine Cole, Producer, Executive Producer, ComposerLyricist - David Linaburg, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Roc Nation, Producer, Executive Producer - Yolanda Renee, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Juro "Mez" Davis, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nate Jones, Bass, AssociatedPerformer - James Rodgers, Bass Trombone, AssociatedPerformer - T.S. Rose Desandies, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Travis Antoine, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald Gilmore, Producer, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Dreamville, Producer, Executive Producer
℗ 2014 Cole World/Interscope Records
Album review
Named after the address of his childhood home in North Carolina, J. Cole's third studio effort was released with no supporting singles, and there are no featured artists, either, because 2014 Forest Hills Drive is one of those personal, conceptual, and "heavy" albums. Most importantly, it's admirable bordering on excellent, sure to inspire returning fans to herald it as a classic even if it doesn't woo the skeptical, casually wandering out of its intro with two smooth and soulful numbers that are so free, they're just shy of being clumsy. Key cut "January 28th" puts gut-wrenching hard truths of the Pusha-T type ("What's the price for a black man's life?/I check the toe tag, not one zero in sight") next to wobbly wordplay that could have been lifted off some old Digable Planets LP ("Flow is bananas/Here, peel this back"), while "Wet Dreamz" finds J. Cole the producer offering a beat that's rather Alchemist or 9th Wonder inspired, and then slathering it in plush strings for a perfect single on an album that refuses singles. Later, "No Role Modelz" mixes a tribute to the late actor James Avery ("Rest in peace Uncle Phil"), with a bubbling beat that's a variation on cloud-rap (co-produced by Phonix Beats and Cole), and a snarky, snappy set of put downs that are like an elevated Fergie ("I don't want no bitch from reality shows/Out of touch with reality hos"), but all these flights of fancy fly freely since the album lacks an anchor. 2014 Forest Hills Drive comes off as a great, experimental, and advancing mixtape, but it's insider to a fault, as slight as that fault might be. © David Jeffries
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 13 track(s)
- Total length: 01:04:38
- Main artists: J. Cole
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Roc Nation Records LLC
- Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
© 2014 Cole World/Interscope Records ℗ 2014 Cole World/Interscope Records
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